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Method and apparatus for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle

  • US 9,321,357 B2
  • Filed: 03/30/2012
  • Issued: 04/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electrical or hybrid vehicle, comprising:

  • a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit;

    at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer;

    one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries, the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, wherein the bidirectional pathway is configured to transfer electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to the one or more storage batteries, and from the one or more storage batteries to the one or more auxiliary batteries; and

    a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway, wherein the control system is configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level by controlling the transfer of electrical energy from the one or more storage batteries to the one or more auxiliary batteries;

    wherein electrical energy is transferred from an energy conversion portion of the vehicle through the one or more storage batteries to the one or more auxiliary batteries via the bidirectional pathway.

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